PUTRAJAYA: Digital Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil will meet with social media service providers to discuss issues related to the spread of fake news and aggressive content.

Beginning his first day officially at the Digital Communications Ministry here yesterday, he said that the meeting would give him the opportunity to understand the regulatory framework of every social media provider.

He said the meeting would allow social media providers to be more conscious about the country’s laws and the need to preserve the harmony and unity of Malaysians.

“I hope they can help towards this effort,” he said during a media conference after attending a ministerial briefing conducted by ministry secretary-general Datuk Seri Mohammad Mentek, with the attendance of ministry top management and department heads.

Fahmi, who was scheduled to meet a TikTok Malaysia representative at 3pm yesterday, said the meeting was due to concerns over the spread of videos on TikTok, especially about the May 13 incident.

“Insyallah, we will invite other social media service providers soon.”

On the ministerial briefing, Fahmi said the issue of fake news and the spread of aggressive content was the main topic of discussion stressed on 11 agencies and three departments under his ministry.

The issues of personal data protection to curb online scams, and the ministry’s budget for 2023, were the other topics discussed.

“On the budget, it was brought up during the briefing. I need to get details from the ministry as I need to understand more to get a clearer picture,” he said.

Regarding the establishment of a Malaysian Media Council, Fahmi said he needed more details on the matter from media industry players, especially journalist associations. He also said guaranteeing media freedoms would be prioritised, including from the aspect of media practitioners’ welfare in the country.

The suggestion to establish a Malaysian Media Council was voiced by participants of Wacana Hari Wartawan Nasional (Hawana) in 2018 to represent the various media organisation in the country.